THIS Is When to Break Up With an Acne Product — For Good
Love It. Favorite It Now.
When it's been less than a month . . .
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd
The sense of urgency that comes with acne can feel like an internal ticking time bomb, but it's important to lend yourself some time before making any brash decisions about treatment. "One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is that they don't give medications a chance to work," Dr. Fusco said. "They'll use something for a few days or a week, and then, when they don't see the results they expected, just stop and switch to something else."
As a general rule of thumb, she recommends giving an acne product a full 30 days before upping its strength, swapping it with another, or nixing it from your routine entirely. "If you're on prescription-strength medications, always contact your dermatologist before you stop treatment," Dr. Fusco said.
1 / 4
When your skin is getting worse . . .
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd
While the whole "it gets worse before it gets better" stage of a skincare routine (better known as "purging") is very real — and benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinoids can cause slight irritation and dryness at first, Dr. Fusco said — if you're developing more acne than ever, especially in areas that were never a problem before, this is a good indicator that this particular product is not for you.
2 / 4
When nothing is happening . . .
Image Source: Getty / People Images
You never want to give up on a good thing, but if it's been at least six weeks and you're seeing little to no improvement, it may be time to kick your acne product to the curb. "This is definitely a sign that the product isn't working for your specific skin type," said Dr. Fusco. A good way to keep track of your progress is by taking photos each week, so you'll be able to closely monitor even the slightest improvement.
3 / 4
When your acne cleared up — in just a week . . .
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd
So your skin is on the up and up? Breathe a sigh of relief, but don't stop using the product. "Even if a patient sees a clearance within a very short period of time, it is important to continue to use your acne medications for the full month, or until your follow-up appointment with your dermatologist," Dr. Fusco said. Bottom line: keep the course.